Sheep Mountain
Thechàl Dhâl
Southeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation1,953 m (6,407 ft)[1]
Prominence244 m (801 ft)[2]
Parent peakMount Wallace (2347 m)[2]
Isolation1.46 km (0.91 mi)[2]
Coordinates61°02′03″N 138°32′46″W / 61.03417°N 138.54611°W / 61.03417; -138.54611[1]
Geography
Sheep Mountain is located in Yukon
Sheep Mountain
Sheep Mountain
Location in Yukon, Canada
LocationYukon, Canada
Parent rangeSaint Elias Mountains
Topo mapNTS 115G2 Congdon Creek
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2 hiking

Sheep Mountain is a 1,953-metre (6,407-foot) mountain summit of the Saint Elias Mountains, in Kluane National Park of Yukon, Canada. It is known as Thechàl Dhâl by the Southern Tutchone people, meaning "Skin Scraper Mountain", referring to the thechàl, a flat stone scraper that was used to prepare animal hides.[3] Sheep Mountain is habitat for Dall sheep, and was once a favorite sheep hunting area for the Southern Tutchone before the park was established.[4] The mountain is a prominent landmark along the Alaska Highway, and topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,140 meters (3,740 feet) above the Thechàl Dhâl Visitor Centre at Kluane Lake in 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles). The mountain can be climbed via an 11 km (6.8 mi) loop which gains 1,310 meters of elevation, part of which is on the Sheep Creek Trail, one of the most popular hikes in Kluane Park.[5] The route provides good opportunities to see Dall sheep, which the mountain is named for.[6] The summit offers views up the Slims River valley to Mount Maxwell, south to Vulcan Mountain, and 2.4 km (1.5 mi) northwest to Mount Wallace, which is the nearest higher neighbor.[2]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Sheep Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, winters, and short, cool summers.[7] Temperatures can drop below −30 °C with wind chill factors below −50 °C. The months June through August offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into Kluane Lake, the largest lake contained entirely within Yukon.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Elevation of Sheep Mountain, Yukon, Unorganized, YT Y0B 1H0, Canada, maplogs.com
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Sheep Mountain, Yukon Territory". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  3. ↑ Polly Evans, 2010, Yukon, Bradt Travel Guides, ISBN 9781841623108, page 104.
  4. ↑ Sheep Mountain, Yukon Geographical Place Names Board
  5. ↑ Ed Readicker-Henderson, Lynn Readicker-Henderson, 2006, Adventure Guide Alaska Highway, Hunter Publishing, ISBN 9781588435712, page 191.
  6. ↑ Rough Guides, 2019, The Rough Guide to Canada, Apa Publications, ISBN 9781789196313.
  7. ↑ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
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